There was a heated exchange in the Dáil
yesterday evening (Wednesday) as Fine Gael T.D. for Sligo – Leitrim and
Assistant Fine Gael Whip, Tony McLoughlin highlighted the issue about
the need for the HSE to urgently provide a fixed Cardio Cath Lab
Service to the people of the North-West region. Deputy McLoughlin
raised the issue under topical issues with Minister for State at the
Department of Health Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy.

McLoughlin vented his frustration at
the delays with this development for Sligo University Hospital given
the fact that “a fixed Cardio Cath Lab Service is not operational
anywhere in the North-West of Ireland at present, let alone are there
plans for additional services to be provided here”.

He stated, “I showed the Minister the
map of Ireland where these current services are. I showed her the
figures on how it would actually save the State money. Over €3.5
Million over ten years, it makes clear sense to develop this much
needed service at Sligo University Hospital ad I wanted the Minister
to bring this message back to the HSE.

“When people look at the facts, here
it is clear to see the Northwest is being overlooked on this issue."

Helicopter Support

“Cardiovascular disease is the single
largest cause of death in Ireland today and a fixed Cardio Cath Lab
Service is vital for patients who suffer a cardiac arrest and their
chances of survival. At present if someone has a cardiac arrest in
Sligo, Leitrim, South Donegal and parts of Cavan, Roscommon and Mayo
today and they need urgent access to Primary PCI and other specialist
cardio treatment within the recommended 90 mins time period, they
will not be able to achieve this without the support of helicopter
transport”.

Deputy McLoughlin continued, “When people have to travel to Galway
or Dublin for Primary PCI, not knowing if they will make it or not in
the back of an ambulance, if they don’t get a helicopter, this is
not acceptable in this day and age.

“I think it is high time now we have
this service delivered to the 250,000 people in the North-West
region. We have seen promises in other parts of the country in
relation to cat labs, and second cat labs and what not! It is not
acceptable for the people that I represent to be overlooked on this
issue.

“There
is a clear case of having the required population for the service to
be viable here and it makes sense in terms of geography, medical
need, but also in terms of finances. On this basis, I
am calling on the HSE and the Minister for Health to ensure that this
process is accelerated and that this service is delivered as quickly
as possible to the people of the North-West," concluded the Sligo based TD.